Romancing the Pirate 01 - Blood and Treasure (7 page)

“With the Royal Navy hot on his heels, the Frenchman, Basile, eloquently concealed the treasure,” Zane smirked, “among a pair of treasures.”

He had no shame. None whatsoever. Lianna’s face flushed the most adorable shade of pink. She should be appalled by his indecency. But instead, the flicker of her lips revealed delight in his churlish flattery.

She cleared her throat. “Your story begs another question.”

Zane leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed at his chest. “Yes, I imagine it does.”

“Well then, what is your role in this magnificent tale? Could it be that you plan to sell the medallion to the highest bidder? Provided, of course, you could lay claim to it.”

She knew full well their bargain decreed it. He
did
enjoy her taunts. “Dear lady, not only do I lay claim to it, I can boast of conquering it.”

“
Conquering? Conquering? I should think that you cannot claim triumph until a siege has taken place. And I wager you’ll have a fierce battle ahead with no guarantee of victory.”

“I do love a fight. ’Twouldn’t be much sport to storm a battlement lacking resistance.”

“Well fortified, to be sure. But please, continue.”

The lass skirted around him before she was unable to retreat. Fortunately, Zane took an immense pleasure playing cat and mouse with her. She treaded dangerously in a realm where he was master. She had no idea what she did to him by toying with him as she did, with those succulent hips and plump breasts. Indulging him by sharing her shattered youth felt as if she bestowed upon him a precious gift. With it he had another piece of her to use to his advantage. To what purpose, he didn’t know. Or cared. He now wanted Lianna to surrender to him all the more.

“I was hired by Governor Abbott six months ago to retrieve The Serpent. Wilcox’s pockets are deep and he was able to secure a faction of the Royal Navy for his enterprise. That is why Commodore Bennington is also after the medallion. Believe what you will, but the Commodore has far less honorable principles in the likes of commoners than even most pirates. He would not have hesitated to slaughter you for that pendant upon learning that you had it.

“Governor Abbott, on the other hand, is more savvy than Wilcox. He has at his disposal a great many buccaneers that will, for a price or a pardon, do his bidding.”

“So he bought you.”

“No,” he corrected. “He hired me. Abbott wanted the medallion bad enough to commission the fastest, most successful privateer he knew.”

“Privateer? Is that what you call yourself?”

Zane cared not to answer to her about his means for making wealth. In fact, he had grown tired of talking at all. There were more enjoyable ways to spend his time than prattling. With the bonny too much longer in his chambers, he was liable to toss out his civilized restraint and take from her what he had wanted since their first encounter. That need gnawed deep within him. Oddly enough, he decided to let her go unmolested.

“Once we get to Tortuga, as per our agreement, you’ll give me The Serpent and I’ll have you ferried to shore safely. I will then arrange to have you returned to Nassau.

“Now, unless you are willing to take this discussion to a more physical level, in which case I could breach your fortifications, ’tis time for you to retire to your cabin.”

CHAPTER 4

Jason set Lianna’s breakfast on her dresser as she finished straightening her bed.

“The Capt’n asked me to bring you this.” He pulled out a small book from the pocket of his trousers.

It had been three days since she last spoke with Captain Fox, since they discussed The Serpent and her fate. That he had not asked for her left her unsettled. She wondered if she had insulted him in some way, notably flirting with his advances. She just hadn’t been able to resist. There was something about the captain that made her fear him and desire him simultaneously. Her fear in him no longer bludgeoned her with horrific visions of torture, like in the stories she had heard of ruthless pirates from blithering drifters. A dangerous man, Zane Fox, of that she had no doubt. But she had become attracted to that danger. He was a forbidden path she longed to explore. And that terrified her. She had never felt that way about a man. Dangerous men passed through the Black Dog’s door nightly. None of them held any interest for her. Most were drunkard fire pots casting about for a fight. Years spent in the underbelly of society, batting away filthy hands and lecherous intents, taught her to avoid these men.

Captain Fox stirred that strange feeling in her again. Maybe ’twas merely seasickness or indigestion. And although he had seen to her comforts, she still felt not as a guest, but rather his captive. But then how was she supposed to feel? A pirate doesn’t go about entertaining his victims.

Jason handed Lianna the book.

“What is this?” She opened it to the first page. “A collection of short stories?”

“He thought you might want to pass the time away with it, you know, being down here alone all day.” He glanced around the room.

She, too, looked around at her surroundings. Lianna could not deny the comfort of her prison cell, but she really was beside herself with brood and boredom.

A deck of playing cards hidden in the chest of drawers had kept her busy for awhile. She had a fondness for games of chance. Gambling was an ordinary interest among the regulars at the Black Dog. Occasionally, in the wee hours of the morning, she would be invited to play a few hands. She didn’t think it so much as a friendly gesture as ’twas the need of another player. Still, she enjoyed the game. Many a cur squandered his wealth gambling. It never really surprised her— the fortunes won and lost, the brawls that commonly broke out with accusations of cheating, or the occasional life lost when bluffs were called. However, the ignorance of many gamblers astounded her. They played with greed, strategy, superstitions or even boasting the luck of a woman on a lap. Win, lose, draw, it all amounted to knowledge. Chance was chance any way ’twas looked upon, but how to turn that risk into a sure thing and know when to fold was key. For her, she was either very knowledgeable or extremely lucky on account she proved hard to beat.

Lianna welcomed the distraction, first cards, and now a book. She was unaccustomed to having so much time to fritter away.

“Thank you, Jason. And please give Captain Fox my gratitude. I should be delighted to read this book.”

She sat down at the writing table. “Come, Jason.” The time had come to pry. She patted the soft bed next to her. “Sit.”

Jason hesitated, looking down at his grubby clothes.

“It’s okay. You won’t stain the spread.” She nodded for him to sit and smiled. “Tell me,” she continued as he took his place. “Do you know how to read?”

“A little.” He kept his eyes on the floor. “The Capt’n sometimes tries to teach me.”

“Oh?” Captain Fox? A teacher? How very…intriguing.

“Aye, when we are on long voyages, he tries to give me lessons. I’m not very good.”

Jason twitched with restlessness. His knees knocked together and he kept an eye on the door.

“I bet you are very good. Here, tell me what this says.” She handed him the book, pointing to an open page.

He stared at the first sentence for a long moment. “Upon the south wind’s, uh…” pausing, his lips silently sounded out the word before he continued, uncertain. “Breath, cometh a warm smell of rain.”

“Brilliant!” She clapped her hands together.

Jason grinned wide and toothy.

“I should think you an astute pupil. Captain Fox must be pleased with you.”

His face lit up as a son’s might after making his father proud.

“Jason, why are you his cabin boy?”

He fumbled the book closed and shot a nervous look to the door. She realized she may have broached the question too soon. But she had to know. The crew on the ship seemed eclectic at best. Scurvy seamen, a literate cabin boy, a libertine, a Lilliputian man with a fancy for cooking and ribbons, and a dangerous gentleman pirate captain, it all seemed too puzzling.

“Are you being held against your will here? Did he kidnap you?”

Jason hopped to his feet. “Oh, no, ma’am. No, ma’am.” Emphatically, he shook his head. “The Capt’n, he saved my life. I am here to repay my debt to him.”

“Saved your life? From the noose?” Why would anyone want to hang a child?

He touched the scar around his tender little neck. “Aye. ’Twas a bit of luck that he was in the square that day.” Jason sat back down, his left foot bouncing restlessly.

Wrought with anguish, she urged him to proceed.

“Natty lad caught thieving, I was.” Shame washed over his expression. He shot her a look as if expecting her disapprobation. “The only way I could keep from starving.”

“But a death sentence is too harsh for such a crime.”

“Not when you are a bastard son born under a halfpenny planet to a whore in St. Augustine,” he muttered.

She flinched at his sharp words. “So Captain Fox saved you?”

“Just as I was given the drop, he stormed the gallows and cut me down. He and Mr. Tyburn and a few others fought soldiers all through town. Capt’n killed three by his own sword. They plundered the nearby marketplace and set fire to the courthouse. Got a good haul that day. I don’t know why he spared me. But I will march to my death for him.”

“A noble proclamation from a boy of, what, ten?”

“Eleven.” His chin jutted up a notch. “I can fight.”

Taken aback, she sucked in a horrified gasp. “He allows you to fight in battles?”

“Well, no.” His chin shot up higher. “But I’ve been practicing.”

Lianna put her hand over his resting on his bony knee. “Well, young sir, I know I will be well cared for should you ever need to defend me in combat.”

He softened with her kindness and bowed his head. “Thank you, ma’am.” He glanced at the door again. “I really must get back to work before I’m missed. Henri gets fired up if I slack.”

“Of course.” She walked Jason to the door. “My thanks to you for visiting with me. You have been a welcoming part of my morning. But might I ask a small favor?”

Jason tugged at his ear nervously. “I, uh, um.”

“’Tis nothing taxing to you, young sir. I promise. Won’t you ask Captain Fox if I may take a bit of sunshine today? If it pleases him, of course.”

He smiled and left.

The enlightenment from Jason about her captor wreaked havoc on her reason. Ridiculous images of Zane bounced helter-skelter in her mind. Here was a man of many masks: a kidnapper, a thief, a plunderer, and a killer, who could be bought and sold. And yet he displayed etiquette and manners, was educated, taught, and risked his life to save another. He was perplexing, a tempting enigma she found perilously attractive. What other surprises did he have in store? She wanted to find out more. She wanted to explore him, his motivations, his thoughts, perhaps the hard contours of his body, and the irresistible mystery that surrounded him. But how far would she be willing to go?

The ship would be arriving in port soon and she would be heading home. There wasn’t much time to dwell on the matter.

*****

Zane considered Lianna’s request to come on deck. He appreciated her pent up feeling of being held against her will. He had first-hand experience at how maddening confinement could be. He remembered painfully all too well being shackled in the belly of a rotten ship, scared and alone, as a boy, huddled in his own filth. Not knowing if the next time the door opened whether it would be for another beating or for a tiny scrap of food. To be able to sleep without the rats gnawing on his raw flesh had been a rare blessing. His crime had been only taking a sip of water from the rain barrel without permission. He had prayed for death. When death didn’t spare him, he vowed he would kill the captain that had been so cruel to him. Years later, he would have his chance. He and a band of his brothers happened upon the black-hearted bastard’s merchantman off the coast of Puerto Rico.

Aye, being held a prisoner made for a hard, bitter man. A little fresh air could do a world of good for anyone who had been locked away from the light of day, even for just a short time.

However, he didn’t feel he could honor her petition. She was a distraction, even with her absence. His mind drifted to the lady lying in her bed at night, adjacent to his own cabin, more than he cared to admit. Having her out of sight these last few days didn’t necessarily mean out of mind. But it did ensure her out of trouble.

Besides, he was very busy poring over the map of Tortuga’s coastline and couldn’t be bothered by an armful in skirts swanning around his ship. He was familiar with this stretch of the Caribbean Sea. But he needed more than just to rely on his expertise and that of his steadfast crew. He needed an unerring strategy for depositing the wench, delivering his message, and securing an escape route. A battle with Bennington was almost certain. There would be no room for mistakes and time was essential.

Still, with thoughts of his youth painfully fresh, he decided to let her go on deck provided she had an escort. Where were these acts of kindness manifesting themselves? If she were any other chit, he would decline her any privileges whatsoever. The woman would be lucky to have a chamber pot to sit on. Just rid himself of the headache at the first opportunity. But with Lianna, he had a mind to let the enduring little creature prove herself.

*****

Blade and Lianna strolled along the upper deck of the
Rissa.
She drew deep breaths of the fresh air and let the sun in the clear sky melt away the clammy feel of her skin. The sunlight glittered off the serene rise and fall of the azure blue sea. Off in the distance, a tiny string of islands peeked above the horizon. Sea birds squawked as they swooped and glided overhead. A group of dolphins swam and frolicked alongside the brig. She bubbled giddy with excitement. Her fate was yet to be determined but the perfection of the natural world surrounding her simply made her at peace.

Blade, leaning with his back against the rail, stared at her. She wasn’t uncomfortable with him, though. In fact, she could avow more at ease with him than with Captain Fox, even though Blade looked as if he would devour her. She grew empowered by his attention.

“Beautiful creatures.” She pointed to the graceful dolphins dipping through the crystalline water.

“Not as beautiful as you, dear lady.”

Every time he flashed those dimples Lianna had an impetuous erotic vision. He entranced her, alluring her with words dripping like golden honey. He wove a magical spell of seduction, making her feel as if she were the only woman in the world. At least for the moment. “Come now, Mr. Tyburn. You flatter me far too much with such sentiment.”

“Oh, but I speak the truth. You are a jewel amid a ghastly ship full of ruffians.”

“Exactly a point. As soon as you dock, you have the means to surround yourself with many beauties.” She turned to lean back against the rail with her elbows up, alongside Blade.

“’Tis true that I don’t spend many lonely evenings but alas ’tis not usually in the company of such a breathtaking woman as you.”

“Don’t waste such blandishments on your prisoner.”